Childlike Faith

When the disciples asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus responded by using what could be considered an enacted parable: “He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven’ ” (Mt 18:2–3).

Even though we might nod in agreement, many of us have the same follow-up question the disciples likely had: “Okay . . . but what does it mean to ‘become like little children’?”

The American Puritan theologian Jonathan Edwards believed what Jesus was primarily referring to was a child’s “tenderness of heart.”

Here are some qualities Edwards observed were common to children, along with questions for reflection on how Christians can model child-like behavior:

1. A little child has a heart that is easily moved to submission—How can you become more moved to submit to God’s prodding?
2. A little child is apt to be sympathetic and can’t bear to see others in distress—Do you weep with those who are weeping?
3. A little child is easily won over by kindness—Has adulthood made you so overly suspicious of people’s motives you can’t appreciate the kindness of others?
4. A little child is easily grieved and inclined to weep when exposed to evil—Do you become grieved and weep at the sin in your life?
5. A little child is easily frightened by the appearance of evil or anything that threatens them with harm—Are you alarmed by moral evil that threatens to harm your soul?
6. A little child is inclined when confronted with danger to flee to their parents—When confronted with spiritual danger do you flee to the arms of Jesus?
7. A little child is apt to be suspicious of evil in places of danger, afraid in the dark, afraid when left alone or afraid when far from home—Are you wary of spiritual dangers and afraid to be far from God?
8. A little child approaches superiors with awe—Do you approach God with holy awe and reverence?
   
   

 Just as children are utterly dependent on adults for comfort, safety and guidance, so should we be reliant on God.

Let’s work hard to keep a “child-like” faith in Jesus!
Pastor Wes